Hanson Holds On For Maiden Pro Win - 17/07/2007

CHRISTOPHER HANSON has won The Bovey Castle Championship by two shots from Warren Bennett after holding his nerve to take victory in the PGA EuroPro Tour event.

Hanson is in just his first year as a professional, but gained his maiden title with an impressive showing at the Dartmoor course.

Windy conditions on Thursday made the going tough, with joint leader Sean Whiffin and contenders Phil Rowe and Neil Rowlands dropping away in the final round.

Warren Bennett was the only player to score a below-par round with a superb 67 to take him out to -1, but even that failed to put the pressure on Hanson.

The 21-year-old from Yorkshire shared the lead with Whiffin at -6 going into the final day after rounds of 70 and 64, and finished with a 73.

A birdie at the second hole cancelled out his bogey five to open the day, but he dropped further shots at six, eight, ten and 11 to slip towards the pack.

However, a birdie at the 13th settled his nerves and he managed to par the remaining five holes to take the win.

"It's brilliant," said Hanson, who turned 21 last Saturday.

"I lost in a play-off at Mollington so it's great to be back in contention so soon.

"It was very windy and on some greens the pins were tucked away so it wasn't easy. It's been an interesting day and I guess I made hard work of it!

"I missed a five-foot putt on the first but then holed a 20-footer on the second for a birdie. I dropped a couple more shots around the turn - I was in the water on the tenth and three-putted on 11."

Hanson paid tribute to coach John Eyre, from Crosland Heath GC in Huddersfield, and his psychologist Drew Wallace.

Wallace has worked with the youngster for the past year since meeting him at University in Preston, and Hanson admitted: "Drew's been great.

"He's helped me with pre-shot routines and changed my mind-set since Mollington. I've been more positive about the way I've played since then and it's paid off.

"It's very new for me still. At Mollington I came from behind but I led after the second round here and didn't know what to expect.

"I tried to take it shot by shot today and to win is fantastic.

"I've had a third place, a second and a win now and this puts me third on the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit.

"The top five is my aim to get a Challenge Tour card but I'm not getting carried away."

Bennett's 67 ensured he took second place, two shots clear of the trio of Kevin Harper - from East Devon - Wentworth's Jonathan Evans and Trevose's Phil Rowe.

Scotland's Graham Gordon posted a final round of 71 to sit alone at two over par, with five players a further stroke back.

They included Whiffin, who shot a 79 on the final day, and James Ruebotham, who followed up his course record 62 in the Pro-Am with a 70 on Thursday for the day's second-best score.

The Bovey Castle Championship - Final Result

The PGA EuroPro Tour continues in Essex next week with the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands, which begins on Wednesday 16 August.